Fluhr: Donham’s plan good for ‘walkability’

Kelly Donham’s revived project on East Douglas Avenue continues to get high marks.

Jeff Fluhr, president of the Wichita Downtown Development Corp., says Donham has a “workable” solution for the 100 block of East Douglas after about four years of inactivity there.

Donham’s latest plan for the Caldwell-Murdock building and the vacant lot just to the east of it, which was rolled out last week, is for apartments in Caldwell-Murdock and a one-story commercial and clubhouse building next to it. He also wants to build a 62-lot parking garage that would be built partially underground. A story about that can be found here.

Fluhr has been briefed on Donham’s project and says it cares for the “walkability” of the block, keeping the streetscape — or “edge along Douglas” — intact.

“(It) will reinforce the walkability along that block,” Fluhr says.

One thing he didn’t know was how Donham would finance the project.

Donham’s plan goes before the Wichita Historic Preservation Board on May 9. He and his architect, Stan Shelden, haven’t returned calls seeking comment.